Originally this post was to have been called “Are the Freelance Writing Blogs Telling You Stuff You Already Know?” so we could have a big discussion about how redundant and unoriginal we all are. Let’s face it, every freelance writing blogger says the same thing, we just use different words. We all want to convince you we’re the best in order to get your traffic, but most of all have the same background, got the same sort of start and now we’re each competing to give you information you already know.

None of you are dumb. You don’t need hand holding and you don’t really need wake up calls. Bloggers like to be very dramatic with our headlines to suck you in and makes you feel as if you don’t know any better…but you do know better, don’t you?

Most things discussed on this and other freelance writing blogs are common sense. Perhaps our posts serve as reminders or nags, but deep in the back of your mind, you know this stuff. Maybe you don’t want to admit some of us are right on about things like rates and clients because you don’t want to step out of your comfort zones. Or maybe you’re just happy in your situation and think to youself, “ho hum, she’s going off about raising rates again.” In any event, I’m not bringing you anything new, and really, neither is anyone else.

This is no big reveal.

Behold:

Top 10 Things Freelance Writing Blogs Tell You That You Already Know

Check out this list and tell us if there’s anything here you didn’t already know.

1. Freelance Writing is a Business

Yawn. How many posts have you seen in the past year discussing how freelance writing is a business and you need to make grown up business decisions. You don’t need us to tell you to set your rates with things like taxes, overhead and medical expenses in mind, in addition to the cost of the project, because everyone knows this. Perhaps it’s not something everyone does, or even thinks about, but everyone knows to ensure the bottom line makes sense. Now, the one thing we can’t tell you is how to run your business because everyone’s situations are different. However, every decision a freelance writer makes is a business decision.

2. You Can Charge More

You don’t need freelance writing bloggers to tell you can earn more money because you already know. You see it in the job ads and you read the heated exchanges on blogs and in discussion forums. You know you can charge more than what you earn now (whatever that is ) but whether you do so or not is entirely up to you.

3. By Charging More You Get to Work Less

Work smarter, not harder…isn’t that what we tell you? The more you charge, the less you work. You can work ten hours at $15 per hour or 6 hours at $50 per hour. Charging more can mean weekends off and nights free. Whether you’re starting low to get your foot in the door, or because you simply like the work you’re doing now, you know that when you’re ready you can request a raise or find higher paying clients.

4. There Are Plenty of People Who Would Like to Take Advantage of You

Blah, blah, blah. Don’t work for free, don’t work for $1, don’t pay someone for a job. Really, is this something you need us to tell you?

5. With Flexibility Comes Responsibility

We all enjoy being able to set our own hours and make our own rules. However, our businesses won’t succeed if we spend more time enjoying the flexibility part and not enough time handling the responsibility part. Every writer knows when they flake on a client it’s irresponsible, even if they used the best excuse in the world. We all know when we blow off deadlines or what will happen if we don’t work in favor of having fun. You don’t need me to tell you to be a responsible writer, you know you’ll lose work and damage your reputation if you don’t remember, first and foremost, this is a job.

6. Use Social Media

Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, forums and other social media tools all have purposes beyond the obvious. How can you not know this? It’s written everywhere–even the news and weather channels are getting involved. Social media helps to grow a business and client base. You may be resisting it for any number of reasons, but there is no way you don’t know that so many of us find social media useful.

7. Always Make a Good First Impression

I shouldn’t even have to blurb this puppy. Who lands the gig – the slovenly fool or the person who takes the time to research the business, know the subject matter and make the best presentation? Every time I talk about proofreading I get a handful of snarky remarks from the peanut gallery from folks who find typos on my blog posts. My blog isn’t looking for a job, people, you are…and you don’t need for me to tell you that it’s the first impression that matters the most.

8. If it Looks Too Good to Be True it Probably Is

You know those ads featuring lots of exclamation points promising $25,000 per month writing for the web just aren’t true. Even the people who apply for these gigs know they’re not true. If those claims were true, don’t you think more of us were doing it?

9. You’re Going to Be Rejected

There’s no way you can’t know writers are always rejected. You probably also know most of the time rejection doesn’t have as much to do with talent as it does fit. If you’re not the right fit for a magazine or website, they won’t accept your writing. It hurts, but seasoned writers brush themselves off and move on. But you don’t need me to tell you that, because you already know, right?

10. A Successful Freelance Writing Career Doesn’t Happen Overnight

Very few freelance writers land their first gigs or even earn enough to leave their day jobs in the first few months. It takes time for a career to develop and for clients to trust you enough to give steady work and referrals. Most aspiring freelance writers know this or else they would quit their jobs first and then find work, instead of the other way around.

What are some of the things you don’t need us to tell you? What did you already know before entering into freelance writing?

There was a reason you didn’t see many members of the the casts of the Brady Bunch or Partridge Family move on to bigger, meatier roles. It’s because most hiring agents couldn’t see any of these kids past their Bobby Brady or Danny Partridge roles. No matter how hard these actors tried to shake these old gigs, they were destined to be seen only as former child sitcom stars. Oh sure, they find work now…playing their former roles in sequels and reunion movies or doing reality TV, but it’s not like they’re doing much else.

That’s what happens when you’re popular for doing one thing and one thing only, eventually that’s all you’re known for. I feel that way about specializing sometimes. On the one hand, having expertise in an area is a good thing as clients know who to consider as the go-to person for that niche. On the other hand, if you’re not careful, you won’t be considered for other types of projects because you’re only known for that one specialty.

Should You Specialize?

When I first began freelancing, I primarily wrote family finance and frugal living type articles. It worked out so well for me that clients contacted me via my byline with offers and I even landed a newspaper column. I wrote for several different sites (including web content sites) and was interviewed for Yahoo! Finance, CNN Money and a couple of other media sites. Specializing in this niche was working out well for me…to a certain extent. I was approached for family finance gigs, but not anything else. That’s not a terrible thing, but I’m a little ADD. Writing about the same thing all day every day doesn’t excite me. Specializing painted me into a corner and I was burning out. Like the aforementioned Bobby Brady, I was typecast and if I wanted to write about other things, I’d have to make some changes to my image.

Should You ONLY Specialize

Here’s where it gets a little tricky…

There is absolutely nothingwrong with establishing expertise and writing primarily about one specific topic if that’s what you love to do. I wrote what I knew, but it wasn’t a topic I especially loved. I also felt, I was limiting my income so I branched out. I began writing about weddings, parenting, household matters and other topics. I realized I enjoyed writing on a variety of subjects rather than one particular thing. Once the blogging bug hit, I was in love and found a niche I could truly write about each day while enjoying what I do. Having a diverse portfolio enabled me to earn more money and it’s one of the reasons I became so successful. I’m not saying I wouldn’t be at least AS successful writing only about family finances, but I can’t say for sure. Sometimes there weren’t freelance writing gigs available in my niche. Sometimes potential clients had a perfect job and I wasn’t considered because they only saw me as the family finance chick. When I specialized, I was the Bobby Brady of the writing world.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t specialize, but I would like you to know that sometimes specializing means you’re setting yourself up for limited opportunities.

Specialize But Leave Your Door Open for Other Types of Projects

Establishing one’s expertise is important, I think every writer should have a specialized area. If you’re an expert, or at least knowledgeable about more than one niche, that’s even better. Just be sure you’re not falling victim to your own typecasting. I don’t have a big website or twitter handle proclaiming me as one type of writer because I find it to be too limiting. I don’t want to be passed over for new opportunities because potential clients feel I’ll only write about fiance or weddings.

Again, this post isn’t to tell you not to specialize. Just consider this:

When you specialize there’s a good chance you’re missing out on many other lucrative projects not in your niche.

I’m always reading (and sometimes writing) about the benefits of being an expert. Sometimes, though, it’s good to look at the other side of the picture. Always consider what branding yourself in one area of expertise will do for the big picture.

Feel free to specialize but remember Bobby Brady. He wanted to be an actor, he ended up as a typecast.

We need our freelance writing clients. Their projects pay the bills and if not for them we’d be at the office jobs we loathe. Still, most writers aspire to make a living writing for themselves. No bosses. No clients. No deadlines. Of course, the problem with this is we can’t stop writing for clients because we need the money.

In the Internet age, it’s easy to take advantage of our freelance writing clients in order to boost our careers. Many count on their their clients to give them a boost. Many bloggers even count on clients’ blogs and websites as a way to promote their own stuff. Certainly if it’s OK with the client, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a little shameless self promotion. We all do it, the ability to publish bylines and bios are written into many contracts. However, if we want to make names for ourselves, doing our own thing, we’ll eventually have to jump off our clients’ coattails.

So how do we get there?

If you want to make a name for yourself beyond client projects:

Write every day….for you

Put aside time each day to work on your blogs or write your novel. Even if you have to rely on client projects for paying the bills, still try and write one page of your ebook or a blog post each day. It may be the last thing you want to do, but consider it an investment into your future. It’s sure to be slow going at first, but at least it’s going. Even if it’s one page or one blog post or one little bit of content, you’re one step closer to giving up those freelance writing clients for good.

Look into passive income

The web has opened the door for many passive income opportunities. Publishing blogs, informative websites, ebooks, courses, coaching services, workbooks and more can help you on the path to freedom.

What appeals to you?

Gone are the days when you have to hope a major publishing company likes your book proposal. There are so many ways to get your message out, and so many ways to earn money through passive income streams. The best part is that most forms of passive income require little or no investment. It doesn’t cost anything to start a blog or create an email, though you may want to invest in some bells and whistles to make the process easier.

Network on your own behalf

So you’re on Twitter and you’re promoting the blog posts you wrote for someone else. How is that really benefiting you? It’s cool and all. However, if you put that same effort into your own stuff, you’re creating a buzz outside of a specific brand name. You’re building up your own brand. You’re introducing people to YOUR stuff. Now you’re walking on your own two feet instead of taking a ride on someone else’s train.

What is your goal?

What is your goal as a writer? Is it to earn a living and that’s it? If so, carry on. Client work handsomely pays the bills. However if your ultimate goal is to earn with your own stuff, you’re going to need to work a little harder. It’ll take time, but I can tell you with all confidence the effort is absolutely worth it.

Think about your goals as a writer. When people see your byline, do they think of you or do they think of the people you work for? There’s nothing wrong with bylines but in today’s world there are so many ways to break away from clients and make your way.

Is it your goal to make a name for yourself? If so, what steps are you taking to make it so?